The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23
TALK WITH LOGANS WIDOW.
She Will Continue to Reside in the Now
Desolate Home at Washington.
Her Description of the Effect of General BOyn-
tons Bitter Newspaper War Upon the
Senator-A Faithful Mourner.
Washington Letter in New York Sun.

Washington Letter in New York Sun.
Yesterday, in the fog and DRILLING rain, l
went to Calumet Place to pay visit to Mrs Lo-
gan, and think some incidents of that visit will
be of interest to the readers Of the Sun. l was
at the house the week of the Generals death,
when great many people were paying their re-
spects and when Mrs Logan was completely
Frustrated as to be unable to see many persons.
She is less occupied with callers now, and her
home has regained somewhat the state OF COM
parative quiet it knew during the Generals
sickness. In the days Of his health he new
er knew what it was to be without callers,
and it was the exception for the family not to
have visitors.
To-day as I entered the library Mrs. Logan
rose from the desk where she sat writing and
greeted me in her kind, sad manner, exeusing
herself while she concluded her letter and sealed
it. looked about the room so full of character
istc remndngs Of the dead hero. The house is
a noble one with wide entrance hall and four
large rooms on either side. The beautiful stair
way at the end of the hall was built under the
Generals direction. and he assisted in its con-
struction, enjoying the work as much as boy
does a new sport. On the walls are his swords,
his sombrero, Indian arrows, devices, and
pictures innumerable General Logan loved
his home and was happy here" said Mrs. Lo-
gan, and as she turned away to conquer the
rising tumut in her breast, l thought OF the
long years the two had spent in board
ing houses, and how glad they must have
been to have this happy home at last He would
come from the Capitol and sit on the piazza in
the spring and summer afternoons, and take
such delight in the view and in the freedom
Upstairs in the little Office opening into my bed
room he wrote his book, and there he worked
every night never going to bed before midnight,
and some times long after. He. is associated
with everything here" she added glancing out
into the hall where stood one of the splendid flo
raj embems sent by friends at the funeral time.
"You will live in Washington permanently
I ventured to inquire
II cannot leave this house; it is sacred to me.
Upstairs ne died; here he was sick, and from
here his body taken to the cemetery. On,
no; cannot leave herei love Chicago people"
she said, after moments silence, land l have
loving friends there; but my home there has
long been rented: it has none of the associations
that this house has, and I cannot believe
should ever become receneed to the rush and
| hustle of commercial city. so new and strange
to nae now. We have lived here since 1866. and
| this is my home"
| could not but feel that she had wisely de-
| cided for Mrs. Logan can never be as contented
| in any other place as in Washington. Her SON
| n-law, Major Tucker, will be stationed in Wash
/ ington for four years. and her daughter and her
little grandson wall form. in addition her son.
| her family. Mrs Logan is living the first quiet
/ time she has known in many years. and the lone
| illness is terrible strain She seems almost be-
| widered at times, and yet never saw woman
| show more reserved power than is EXPRESSED in
1 her quiet voice and patient manner spoke to
her of the often repeated assertion that her AMI
| bition had exercised great influence over Gen.
Logan. and asked her if she took the interest ia
| political campaigns attribted to her.
! i'From the time Of marriage we lived an
eventful life,' abe said. 1.-THE Generals practice
was almost wholly criminal one, while he was
l -. II <L4
/ of many of them. The state of feeling in south
/ ern Illinois from 1856 was intense, and was al
| ways anxious to be near my husband. When ne
/ went out to speak / went with him TO look after
| his comfort. He was careless of himself; he
| would speak until drenched with perspration.
4 and liked to be near at hand to see that he was
| provided with dry garments. In fact" she added
II went with him more as nurse than anything
| else. When he was tired talked to people, saw
his friends, and gave him the chance to rest
Then when he a candidate for Congress- he
liked to have with him to avoid many who
| were tax upon his time and strength. He woul6
| never have men around him whom he was no,
willing to introduce to me, and thus was able
| to be of service
1t was most interesting to listen to Mrs. Lo
gan she talked of the state of politics in the
early DAYS Of the war and preceding, and graft
flying to read in her words the proofs of he1
| great and absorbing love for her husband. Some
/ thing said about this being noble ambition, lee
I her to say that she was ambition she would ad
4
| enthusiastic, honest nature She wanted him
4 to be at the head of whatever he undertook
/ Had he remained lawyer she would have
| wished him to lead in his profession; and sh
1 felt certain he could do anything that he at
4 tempted. What n mighty bulwark this woman
love was to this statesman whom the countr,
i has lost She is so earnest, direct and sncer
/ that it is fascinating to hear her talk and on
Il listens to her wondrous elOQuence with sa
pain at the heart. She was not willing that he
Il hero should be worker only-he should be
4 leader. and the service she rendered him was t
/ keep him at his best.
i questioned her rather closely, fear becaus
wanted to understand her life thoroughly, i
i order to write of it clearly. She told me tina
i from his mother General Logan Inherited ter
dency TO melancholy; that he was extremel
4 sensitive and easily depressed by injustice @
/ want of loyalty on the part of thosa he believe
\ to be his friends. She had ever to strengthen hir
1 against this inherited tendency and to try I
| overcome the influence of his mothers natur
i upon his.
81 never felt AS he did about people" said she
/ if they were stanch and true appreciated i
1 if they otherwise I remembered that b,
man nature was weak, and people could not a
! be strong"
Mrs Logan went on to say that she had bee
| disciplined in her youth by her fathers exper
| ences, ard was not affected by outward circun
stances much her husband. ST.
had seen her father lose give away ever,
thing he had to unworthy people, and his famil
| had suffered in consequence 1t easier Il
her to meet ingrattude and harsh criticism tina
it for General Logan. and she had trie
always to protect him against unnecessary pal
from this source.
led tho conversation ND to the last sickne
OF the General and heard from her some fac
that will interest the public. She told me tn
either she or her daughter had given to the i
valid every particle of medicine he took from I'll
time of his attack except in one or two instane,
whore the old family nurse had given it. Mr.
Tucker, the Generals only daughter, who s
by, said. Yes, and was by when they wei
administered Mrs. Logan said that she had
the prescriptions used. and that everything th
medical science could do was done for him.
'You doubtless know" ! said. that much u
favorable comment has been made regardir
Dr. Baxters management of the case. and tn
the old friends OF General Logan are mu
| panied to hear it,"
Mira Innap,s aau;.l ,u.. ea.a.1a4e